follow a families agonizing struggle for survival during the collapse of communism in the gorbachev yeltsin era.out of control changes which sweep the country and a soviet leader who is unable to keep in check the dark forces who resist his reform program and stop at nothing to drag this mighty super power into the abyss

In a compressed historical review beginning with Ivan the Terrible, the author focuses on Russia's development into a "national-security state," a state that sacrificed individual and public life to all-encompassing goals of national security and territorial expansion.

In this thoughtful monograph, the author traces how Russia’s character has shaped its evolution, with a particular focus on how the ruling “elite” has led the country from one disaster to another. An examination of Russia’s ruling circles since Lenin and the leadership selection process, reveals how and why Putin ascended to power, and how his policies are likely to shape the country’s future.